TN HJR0094

Proposes amending the Tennessee Constitution to create a 13-member independent redistricting commission responsible for drawing state senate, state house, and congressional district maps following each federal decennial census

Commissioners selected through a multi-step process: Secretary of State mails applications to 10,000 random registered voters, creates pools of applicants by party affiliation (two major parties plus non-affiliated), and legislative leaders may strike up to 5 applicants each before final random selection of 4 commissioners from each major party pool and 5 non-affiliated commissioners

Disqualifies from serving anyone who in the past 6 years was a partisan candidate, elected official, political party officer, paid campaign consultant, legislative employee, registered lobbyist, or executive service state employee; commissioners barred from running for partisan state/local office for 5 years after appointment

Requires districts to meet criteria in priority order: equal population, geographic contiguity, respect county/municipal boundaries, compactness, reflect communities of interest, partisan fairness (no disproportionate advantage to any party), and no incumbent protection

Commission must hold at least 10 public hearings before drafting plans and 5 hearings after; final plan adoption requires majority vote including at least 2 commissioners from each major party and 2 non-affiliated commissioners; plans become law 60 days after publication